Combined dewatering and liquid phase hydrogenolysis of raw peat using carbon monoxide

Abstract

There is provided a process for the hydrogenolysis of raw humid peat by treating untreated peat as obtained from the bog with carbon monoxide at a temperature of from 350° to 373° C. and under a pressure up to 35 MPa and recovering bitumen-like compounds from the non-aqueous phase.

We claim: 
     
       1. Process for the hydrogenolysis of raw humid peat with carbon monoxide which consists essentially of submitting untreated peat as obtained from the bog and having a water content of from 80 to 95% to the action of carbon monoxide at a temperature of from 350° to 373° C. and under a total pressure up to 35 MPa, separating the aqueous phase from the non-aqueous phase and recovering the hydrocarbons and/or bitumen-like compounds from the non-aqueous phase. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 consisting of submitting untreated peat as obtained from the bog and having a water content of from 80 to 95% to the action of carbon monoxide at a temperature of from 350° to 373° C. and under a total pressure up to 5 MPa, separating the aqueous phase from the non-aqueous phase and recovering the hydrocarbons and/or bitumen-like compounds from the non-aqueous phase.